Junction Crowdfunding passes halfway mark

A crowdfunding campaign to draw attention to the urgent need for a flyover over the A90 at Laurencekirk has reached 50% of its target, with eight days left to go.

Local safety campaigner Jill Fotheringham started the pledges earlier this month, explaining that the £5,000 target was more of a symbolic gesture from the community, to send the message that the flyover is needed sooner rather than later.

An upgrade of the A90/A937 south junction to a grade-separated junction was been identified as the preferred option for improving the A90 at Laurencekirk earlier this year, following an appraisal by Nestrans.

This was recently endorsed by Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, however Transport Scotland, Nestrans and the council are yet to agree who will fund the project.

Locals have backed the crowdfunding campaign, leaving donations and messages of support on the page.

David May said: “I am adding £30 to my pledge as we need to get this flyover as soon as possible. Even the Transport Minister now accepts the need for it so I call on him to get it started, no more delays.”

Speaking about the crowdfunding campaign, Jill said: “Firstly I would like to thank everybody who has pledged to the just giving appeal. I would like, also, to say, I don’t believe it should ever have come to the fact that we felt we had to put our hands in our own pockets and donate our own money to help fund a flyover at the junction that should have been in place years ago.

“It’s a simple fact that the junction is on a trunk road which is Transport Scotland’s responsibility to maintain and upgrade! No one else’s. The just giving appeal is our way of showing them that, as a community we want the junction upgraded now! If we reach the target of £5000 it will barely scratch the surface of the cost of the upgrade but it will show them we want it now, no more delays.”

There is still plenty of time to contribute to the total, visit www.crowdfunding.justgiving.com/jill-fotheringham-1